Get muddy to look more pretty

MUD-UP Fullers Earth or multani mitti can be used extensively in skin care, writes Shahnaz Hussain

Fuller’s Earth is a natural clay, which is white or light beige in colour. It contains several minerals. It is of particular benefit to oily skins, since it helps to absorb oil and thus reduce oiliness from the skin surface. It has an astringent effect and thus refines and tightens the pores, improving skin texture.

It also tones and brightens the skin, leaving it smooth, soft and glowing. It even helps acne and pimple prone skin by reducing oiliness and keeping the pores free of oil. It can be used along with ingredients like sandalwood, neem, and mint to treat pimples and acne. Being a clay, it becomes dry when applied on the skin, thus tightening the skin and serving the purpose of a useful face pack.

Fuller’s Earth or Multani Mitti is mentioned in Ayurvedic texts and is said to balance all the three doshas. Its use is advised in Ayurveda due to its cooling effects and also because it is rich in minerals and draws out toxins and impurities. Ayurveda recommends the use of multani mitti in “ubtans” or face and body packs, as well as for blending with herbal extracts and essential oils in the preparation of face packs.

Fuller’s Earth is of particular benefit to oily and congested skin, as it helps to reduce oiliness and draws out toxins and impurities. However, it forms an ideal pack ingredient and can be combined with ingredients that are suited to other skin types.

Fuller’s Earth can be combined with other ingredients to make a face pack and can easily be used at home. One of the most common ingredients that is used in combination with Fuller’s Earth is rose water. Along with rose water, Fuller’s Earth helps to tone the skin and also refine the pores and tighten them. Both are known for their cooling effect on the skin and also improve blood circulation to the skin surface, adding a glow to the skin. The blend of rose water and Fuller’s Earth is most suited to oily and combination skin and can also be used on pimple or acne prone skin, to clarify it. Sandalwood paste may also be added to multani mitti and rose water to make a pack for acne prone skin.

One tablespoon Fuller’s Earth may be mixed with one teaspoon rose water. More may be added to get the right consistency of a paste that does not drip. It dries quickly and may be kept on till it dries. It will help to reduce oiliness and clarify the skin. If the skin is dry, the blend of Fuller’s Earth and rose water should be mixed with other ingredients like honey, curd, aloe vera gel, milk, cream of milk, and almond oil. Fuller’s Earth can also be used as a natural remedy to soothe nappy rash and irritated skin on babies. It can also be mixed with water and a little vinegar to make a thin paste and apply for a few minutes on insect bites. 

Here are some ways of using Fuller’s Earth:

* For oily skin: Mix Fuller’s Earth (multani mitti) with rose water into a paste and apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off when it is dry. For combination skin, apply the mask on oily areas of the skin, like the T-zone.

*For pimples / acne: Mix Fuller’s Earth with sandalwood paste, rose water and neem leaf powder into a paste. Paste of tulsi leaves may also be applied instead of neem leaf. Apply the same way and wash it off when it is dry.

*  Mix two tablespoons Fuller’s Earth with egg white and apply daily as a mask for oily and acne prone skin

*For normal skin: Mix Fuller’s Earth with honey and yogurt into a paste. Apply on the face and wash it off after 20 minutes.

*  For pimple marks: Mix Fuller’s Earth with rose water and lemon juice into a paste and apply on the face. Wash it off when it is dry.